A 26-year-old man is facing murder charges following the death of a 53-year-old man in Greenville. The older man’s body was found in his home on Dec. 5 after police were called to make a welfare check. According to police, he had suffered trauma to his body. A day later, the other man was taken into custody.
The warrant says the men had an altercation that led to the murder. Police used CCTV and witnesses to identify the man they detained. They found the man in an emergency room with an injury related to the altercation but reportedly not inflicted by the victim.
The man who was killed had owned several local liquor stores, but he had sold them. Neighbors and former employees reported that the man had been well-liked, and they did not know what motive someone might have had to kill him. Police said he knew the alleged murderer but were unable to clarify what the relationship was.
A person who is facing charges for violent crimes such as this one might want to consider what evidence exists. For example, if there is strong evidence that the accused was involved in an altercation leading to the person’s death, that death may have been accidental. The alleged offender may go to a jury trial with this defense, or there might be an opportunity to plea bargain. In a plea bargain, a defendant does not go to trial but pleads guilty and usually receives a lighter sentence. An attorney could help the accused person come up with a defense strategy.